Dozens of sick cats, strays overwhelming Humane Society of St. Lucie

FORT PIERCE — The Humane Society of St. Lucie County is the last stop for the county's four-legged residents needing to find a home.

But with the rescue of 49 cats from a Port St. Lucie home on Monday, the shelter is now home to more than 150 cats and 130 dogs and about above capacity, said Frank Andrews, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County.

"I'd say were about 59 percent above capacity," he said. "I don't know what we are going to do."

The shelter won't put animals to sleep just to handle crowding, Andrews said.

"Euthanasia would be as a last resort for animals that are severely ill, but it is not something we will even consider to handle the overcrowding," Andrews said.

Andrews said staff have brought in cages designated for outside uses to house felines and some cats are having to share a cage — two to a cage for most cats but smaller, younger cats are going three to a cage, as shelter officials work to find them "good homes."

In addition to the cats received on Monday, the shelter already was trying to find homes for the more than 80 cats rescued from a home at 3266 S.W. Ronlea Court, Port St. Lucie. Those cats suffered from fleas, upper respiratory illnesses and eye infections that cause sight loss in some cats.

No charges have been filed against the man who had the 49 cats or the renters on Ronlea Court.

To make matters worse, the shelter received 15 more cats on Wednesday, when animal control found the strays during routine patrol and delivered them to the shelter, Andrews said.

"My goodness we have cats, cats, cats and more cats," Andrews said. "I've never seen so many cats."

Officials estimate caring for each cat costs an average of $60 to $80 and they plan to use the shelter's animal emergency fund. That money is collected from donations and fundraisers.

To solve the problem officials are considering quick adoptions and lowering the $50 cost of adoption.

"We may be running a cat marathon special," he said.

Andrews said no final decision has been made about adoption price.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Go to the St. Lucie County Humane Society at 100 Savannah Road in Fort Pierce.